Effects of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention Therapy on Drug Craving and Emotion Regulation of Therapeutic Community Centers Clients
Parvin Sadat Hosseini, Zahra Eftekhar Saadi, Reza Johari Fard
Journal of Health Reports and Technology July 22, 2023 DOI: 10.5812/jhrt-136888 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 40 |
| Population | Stimulant (methamphetamine) users visiting therapeutic community (TC) treatment centers in Khuzestan Province, Iran, in 2022 |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) therapy |
| Duration | Eight 90-minute sessions |
| Measures | Desires for Drug Questionnaire (DDQ), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key findings | MBRP therapy, delivered as eight 90-minute sessions, significantly reduced drug cravings and improved emotion regulation compared with a waiting-list control group (P < 0.001). The authors conclude MBRP can be adopted to help mitigate cravings and enhance emotion regulation in rehabilitation patients. |
Abstract
Background: Many substance abusers suffer uncontrollable symptoms of extreme stress and cannot regulate their emotions after a traumatic experience.
Objectives: This study hence investigated the effects of mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) therapy on drug craving and emotion regulation of therapeutic community (TC) center clients.
Methods: This quasi-experimental research adopted a pretest-posttest control group design. The statistical population included all stimulant-related (methamphetamine) visitors to treatment centers (TCs) of Khuzestan Province (Iran) in 2022. The convenience sampling method was employed to select 40 participants, who were assigned to an experimental group and a control group (20 members per group). The experimental group received MBRP therapy (eight 90-minute sessions), whereas the control group received no interventions and remained on the waiting list. The data were collected by using the Desires for Drug Questionnaire (DDQ) and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. The ANCOVA was used for data analysis in SPSS-26.
Results: The mean and standard deviation (± SD) of the drug cravings and emotion regulation for the MBRP group in the posttest were 46.85 ± 4.47 and 27.50 ± 2.72, respectively; while in the control group, the means were 69.30 ± 7.25 and 29.60 ± 2.16, respectively. MBRP had a significant effect on drug cravings and emotion regulation in clients of TC centers (P < 0.001). According to the results, MBRP effectively reduced drug cravings and improved the emotion regulation of participants in the experimental group.
Conclusions: According to the findings, MBRP improved drug cravings and emotion regulation. Hence, MBRP can be adopted to help mitigate drug cravings and enhance the emotion regulation of patients in rehabilitation.